Marvel Comics

The Avengers: The Serpent Crown

By Hervé St.Louis
Dec 26, 2005 - 9:14:00 AM

Marvel Comics
Writer(s): Steve Englehart
Penciller(s): George Perez
Inker(s): Vinnie Colletta

This trade paperback collects classic Avengers stories originally published in Avengers 141-144 and 147-149 in the mid 1970s. In these, the Avengers fought Kang and the Squadron Supreme. In this story, the second Hellcat makes her first appearances and we follow Beast as he has just joined the Avengers. What makes this classic Avengers’ lore is Hawkeye, the Vision, the Scarlet Witch, Iron Man, Thor and Captain America.

Steve Englehart has always written weird stories for his characters. Always surrounded with action, they were always well characterized and pitchy. By today’s standard, the way Hellcat became a heroine, how Hawkeye with a bow and arrow pursued Kang and how easily the Supreme Squadron the Justice League stands in at Marvels was defeated by the Avengers seems simple, yet it’s still entertaining.

This is early Perez work. The art is more similar to Al Migrom than current Perez. The high-tech gear is not as polished and intricate as in modern Perez’ work. Yet, all the adventuring and sense of lightness in the Avengers’ movements are there. Colletta’s inks are not overbearing and give a rough and edgy look to Perez’s pencils. It’s amazing to see how much George Perez’s name is a mainstay in Avenger’s lore.